my new bike/chari and I hit the pavement in Tokyo

A stranger in your own backyard

I found a new meaning for unheimlich. I went to the town I once lived in. Walking around a town in which you know all the roads and crannies and yet which no one knows you anymore is both disconcerting, and wonderful. You can explore a place with complete ease, neither a tourist, nor part of the community. I suppose in someways Tokyo is often like that because of sheer numbers, but being in a small town was much more relaxing on these counts.

Tochigi has suffered a bit in the last few years. So many buildings were empty. Schools have closed, restaurants gone. Places I used to go stand empty. The game center, the mos burger, the mom and pop store in front of the station.

I definitely saw many things with fresh eyes that obnoxious youth, and living there obscured from me. So many amazing buildings. And the people were so kind. No offense Tokyo, but personality wise, you have nothing on the sticks.

I went for the festival, but more on that later.

sequined “rice”

I love that this car is both for a driver over 65 (as evidenced by the yellow and orange sticker) and also a community watch vehicle. Vigilantly nosey old folks in vintage cars.

I’m smitten.

Last year I decided to ditch the train in Tokyo and go by bike. I bought a Bridgestone 3 speed and off I went. What I didn't realize was that I would become completely smitten by both riding, and bikes themselves. Now I'm back in Toronto (for the time being, and I still keep that Bridgestone in Tokyo for when I am there) and still riding, and somehow acquiring bicycles.
I'm now up to six: the original Bridgestone (Mabel), a Danish Viva Bellisimo (Maru), a 1966 CCM single speed cruiser (Grover), a fold up I've had for several years (Paris), and a Fleetwing Deluxe Mixte 10-speed (Florence), and now a 3 speed Raleigh Sports I rescued from being dumped (Riley)
To me, these are my adventures...

Maru, a Vivo Bellissimo

Grover

My Paris (almost)

This is almost a photo of my fold up bike. She is a bright shiny girl for 9 years old, and works hard.

Mabel, my Beaute

This is my stable work ride, my Bridgestone 2010 Beaute. No, really, that's the model name, I didn't name my bike that. She's a strong work horse, but a heavy girl, and currently stuck in Tokyo for a bit